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Eminent Nigerians have continued to pay tributes to former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Timinipre Isoun, who passed away on July 15, 2026, at the age of 87. The late erudite Professor of Veterinary Medicine and illustrious Ijaw son was an academic colossus whose visionary leadership left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s development landscape.
In a condolence message signed by its Chairman, Chief Bukazi Etete, the Ijaw Elders Forum (IEF), Lagos State, described the deceased as an academic icon, nation builder, dedicated mentor, and fierce champion of his people’s advancement. The message reads: “As the Ijaw nation mourns a colossus—the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the first university in Ijaw territory, former Minister of Science and Technology, and founder of the Bioresources Development Centre, Odi—the Ijaw Elders Forum, Lagos, commiserates with his wife, Mrs. Miriam Jean Isoun, and the entire Isoun family. We pray that his soul finds eternal rest.”
Highlighting his transformative contributions to nation building, the group noted that Prof. Isoun’s tenure as Minister revolutionised Nigeria’s approach to technology and innovation. He was instrumental in launching Nigeria’s first earth observation satellite, NigerSat-1, in 2003, placing the country on the global map of space exploration. He also spearheaded the formulation of national policies on biotechnology, information technology, and intellectual property rights, laying the structural foundation for modern science governance in Nigeria.
Beyond his national assignments, Prof. Isoun was a relentless advocate for grassroots empowerment and higher education. As the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), he pioneered practical, skill-focused university education in the Niger Delta. Furthermore, by founding the Bioresources Development Centre in his hometown of Odi, Bayelsa State, he successfully bridged the gap between advanced research and local community development, turning scientific knowledge into economic opportunities for the region.
The Ijaw Elders Forum concluded by lauding the late professor as a patriot whose extraordinary devotion to research, public service, and human capacity building will continue to inspire generations of young scientists and leaders across Nigeria.
